English sparkling wine this year is going to be pretty special.

That is according to the French Champagne house Louis Pommery.

Who are producing some of the best English sparkling wines from their vineyard in the south coast county of Hampshire.

The extensive vines were planted with GPS location precision over the 30 hectares of the Pinglestone estate!

Louis Pommery Connection

For example Pommery looked across the world for terroirs capable of yielding grapes of the quality to produce sparkling wines with the distinctive identity of that of Reims.

Harvest time at the vineyard at Pinglestone Farm.

In the heart of Hampshire, at Pinglestone, Louis Pommery now produces a sparkling wine that is faithful to the spirit. But also demonstrating the character of its British terroir.

Perfectly placed vines in stunning straight lines in order to make the most of the terroir. Additional to the chalk downland so that each variety gets the best growing conditions and even orientation.

GPS planted vines at Pinglestone Farm near Arlesford Hampshire.

However, a modern metallic covered  barn houses rows of  stainless steel vats in which the juice is stored.

Stainless production here at Louis Pommery in Hampshire .

Yet next door is a wooden one built in the 15th century of stout english oak!

Louis Pommery vineyard at Pinglestone Farm near Arlesford Hampshire.

Where you can get to taste to products of the whole estate. Where the valuable grape juice nectar that has been turned into top flight English sparkling wine.

Similar To But Not Champagne

In a process that mimics the same production methods of Champagne itself. And yet not one oak barrel is used here!

Tour of the vineyard at Pinglestone Farm near Arlesford Hampshire.

The acres of the flint encrusted soil that this year although with heat wave after heat wave has not required any additional watering.  As the moist chalk soil substrate sustained all the vines needs.

Orientation of the vines is certainly important as is the spacing of them too.

Orientation of vines at the Louis Pommery vineyard at Pinglestone Farm.

This is where that high tech planting technique comes in.  As the trimmed vines are at such distances that they cast no shadow on their neighbour.

Thus allowing each bunch of grapes to ripen to their maximum.

Bee Hives And Bat Boxes Too

Environmental care is paramount with every tenth row planted with wild flowers.

“The ecological tapestry is enhanced. If we can encourage beneficial insects that enrich the ecological fabric of the whole vineyard?” says Chief Winemaker Will Perkins.

Chief Winemaker Will Perkins at Pinglestone Hampshire.

“We are the only wine estate in the UK to plant vines on a 360 degree compass.  We have learned over the last 30 years from our colleagues in France that this has really informed us to plant this way.”

Harvest time at the Louis Pommery vineyard at Pinglestone Farm near Arlesford.

“They in their turn encourage bees and other helpful insects into the animal mix. Bee hives, Bat boxes and bird boxes are all part of the wildlife plan. Said Will

Rabbits, badgers can be partial to the grapes although they are mostly out of reach a couple of feet above the ground held tight on the wire supports.

Louis Pommery vineyard tour with Mark Laughton  at Pinglestone Farm.

I joined a special tour of the vineyard with a group of ten other visitors. Like myself  all keen to learn more about producing such top English quality sparkling wine. Plus hearing the desire to make it so special using every aspect the land, soil and environment they are blessed with.

A walk into the regimented vineyard strewn with flint. And the neat lines of tightly stretched wires all keeping the plants in check.

None Stop Care At Louis Pommery

The constant and on going pruning stops the vines from getting above head height during the growing season too.

Close up of grapes in the vineyard at Pinglestone Farm near Arlesford.

“We are managing this canopy and making sure that the grapes are inside the wires.  We make sure that there are no leaves covering the grapes we do that in August. That way they are kept dry and no diseases can build up on them it also helps with the ripening process.” said knowledgeable Tour Guide Mark Laughton to the attentive audience.

He added, “Using precision GPS in the planting ensures that the vine spacing is perfectly straight, as manoeuvring a tractor and various attachments down the rows being perfectly straight is such a bonus by preventing any damage to the vines.”

Making English Sparkling Wine The Reims Way

Certainly intense attention and care is paramount. Constantly on the look out for any pests and diseases.

Be that fungus or attacks by insects, or the likes of downy mildew, powdery mildew, and grey mould which are the most common.

Some birds it appears, do love grapes and starlings on the look out for easy pickings can devastate a row or two. However, the constant random timed barrage from the bird scarers helps to keep them  away too.

Various other insect pests do come from abroad even from as far as away as Japan. And, can cause problems here in the UK.

News is spreading a Japanese film crew at Pinglestone Farm.

In the end the various battles with nature, the weather and wildlife mean the final products from the vineyard are split into three types of sparkling wine of Brut, Rose and Vintage, Louis Pommery.

Many years ago Pommery looked across the world for terroirs capable of yielding grapes of the quality to produce sparkling wines. All with the distinctive identity of that of Reims itself.

In the heart of Hampshire, at Pinglestone, Louis Pommery now produces an English  sparkling wine that is faithful to the spirit of France’s Champagne capital.

Yet also contains the complementary character of the British terroir found around Arlesford in the South of England.

So lets toast to this Entente Cordiale among wine makers.

Ends…